American tennis star Coco Gauff has been eliminated from medal contention in women's singles, falling to Croatian Donna Vekić 7-6(7) 6-2 at the Paris Olympics.App users can click here to watch the controversial call and other highlights from the match.It was a match filled with emotion for the No. 2 seed, who became ensnared in a heated debate with chair umpire Jaume Campistol.Gauff seemed to be cruising against Vekić in her third-round singles match at Roland Garros. She was a point away from taking the first set but watched the match slip away from her, eventually falling in straight sets. By the time the contested call happened, Gauff was a ways behind — two games from the end of the match. Here's what happened. A line call of Gauff’s baseline was initially called out. But Campistol overruled the decision, handing Vekić a crucial break point.Play was paused as Gauff debated the call, pushing for the point to instead be replayed. She argued that incorrect call was made just before she hit the ball, impacting her stroke.“I never argue these calls. But he called it out before I hit the ball,” Gauff said to Campistol. “It’s not even a perception; it’s the rules.”Gauff wiped away tears from her eyes in the minutes-long debate as the supervisor also came out on the court. Jeers and boos came from the crowd as play eventually resumed. “There’s been multiple times this year where that’s happened to me — where I felt like I always have to be an advocate for myself on the court,” Gauff said afterward, renewing a call for video review to be used in tennis, as it is in many other professional sports.“I felt that he called it before I hit, and I don’t think the ref disagreed,” she said. “I think he just thought it didn’t affect my swing, which I felt like it did.”Gauff is one of the biggest stars at the 2024 Paris Games. The 20-year-old was the female flag bearer for the United States during the opening ceremony Friday. Gauff is out of the singles draw, but it's not an end of her Olympic journey just yet. She's scheduled to head back out on court with U.S. teammate Taylor Fritz for a first-round mixed doubles match later Tuesday. She is also competing in women’s doubles with Jessica Pegula.
American tennis star Coco Gauff has been eliminated from medal contention in women's singles, falling to Croatian Donna Vekić 7-6(7) 6-2 at the Paris Olympics.
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App users can click here to watch the controversial call and other highlights from the match.
It was a match filled with emotion for the No. 2 seed, who became ensnared in a heated debate with chair umpire Jaume Campistol.
Gauff seemed to be cruising against Vekić in her third-round singles match at Roland Garros. She was a point away from taking the first set but watched the match slip away from her, eventually falling in straight sets.
By the time the contested call happened, Gauff was a ways behind — two games from the end of the match.
Here's what happened.
A line call of Gauff’s baseline was initially called out. But Campistol overruled the decision, handing Vekić a crucial break point.
Play was paused as Gauff debated the call, pushing for the point to instead be replayed. She argued that incorrect call was made just before she hit the ball, impacting her stroke.
“I never argue these calls. But he called it out before I hit the ball,” Gauff said to Campistol. “It’s not even a perception; it’s the rules.”
Gauff wiped away tears from her eyes in the minutes-long debate as the supervisor also came out on the court. Jeers and boos came from the crowd as play eventually resumed.
“There’s been multiple times this year where that’s happened to me — where I felt like I always have to be an advocate for myself on the court,” Gauff said afterward, renewing a call for video review to be used in tennis, as it is in many other professional sports.
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“I felt that he called it before I hit, and I don’t think the ref disagreed,” she said. “I think he just thought it didn’t affect my swing, which I felt like it did.”
Gauff is one of the biggest stars at the 2024 Paris Games. The 20-year-old was the female flag bearer for the United States during the opening ceremony Friday.
Gauff is out of the singles draw, but it's not an end of her Olympic journey just yet. She's scheduled to head back out on court with U.S. teammate Taylor Fritz for a first-round mixed doubles match later Tuesday. She is also competing in women’s doubles with Jessica Pegula.
Tearful Coco Gauff exits Paris Olympics singles competition after controversial umpire call
